Greenhouse and picture glass
You need a straight score on about 2–6 mm annealed sheet, and you want the oil story in the bullets. The HaroKing includes a bottle of cutting oil. Put a few drops in the handle, not a full fill.
Glass cutter comparison 2026
The best glass cutters, compared.
Top pick: Rustark pliers and glass cutter set – Highest score in this set, 88, from 4.4 out of 1,287 reviews and the only running pliers. The cutter itself is the weak part. Best value: HRLORK 5-piece glass cutter kit – Same score band as the oil-included pencil, 86, at about £6.49, on 106 reviews. Updated October 2026.
Charlie White (Charlie DIYte)Expert source
A glass cutter scores annealed glass with a carbide wheel so you can snap the sheet. You use one on picture glass, a household mirror, greenhouse sheet or stained glass, usually about 2 mm to 6 mm. Toughened door and shower glass cannot be scored after heat treatment. What you want is a faint continuous score, an oil feed that wets the wheel without flooding, and a head you can change. Hands and a bench edge suit a short straight snap. The [glass cutter buying guide](/hub/cutting-tools/glass-cutter/sub/glass-cutter-buying-guide) sets glass type, cut shape, then oil. A 12–20 mm head is a seller claim, not proof that 20 mm glass cuts in normal use. Pencil oil-feed cutters are the default: a hollow handle and a carbide wheel.
A glass cutter scores annealed glass with a carbide wheel so you can snap the sheet. You use one on picture glass, a household mirror, greenhouse sheet or stained glass, usually about 2 mm to 6 mm.
18 products checked · 47 hrs invested · +16,200 readers
5 of 5: Best glass cutters compared
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1-2 of 5Best overall
Best value
8.8/10
8.6/10
8.6/10
8.4/10
5.8/10
∼ £17
∼ £10
∼ £6
∼ £9
∼ £4
4.4(1,287)
4.3(2,097)
4.3(106)
4.2(16,130)
2.9(35)
Personal buying guide
Which glass cutter fits?
Question 1 of 2
Do you need help snapping a longer line?
The best glass cutters in detail
Our view
The Rustark R513-BLQ puts the break in the box: running pliers with an adjustable set screw, spring-loaded grozer pliers with jaw covers, an alloy pencil and three carbide heads stated for 2–6 mm, 6–12 mm and 12–20 mm, plus an oil dropper and a screwdriver. It is listed at £16.99 and 120 g, with 4.4 from 1,287 amazon.co.uk reviews, the highest stars and the highest score in this set, so it is the top pick when you want help snapping a line rather than only scoring it. All 22 UK reviews in the saved listing praise the pliers, the rubber jaw tips and, often, a zip wallet that the contents list does not mention. The cutter is the weak part: oil leaks, one scoring wheel arrived pitted and would not mark glass, and one unit arrived used and dirty. A bottle of oil is not listed, so the dropper is empty until you fill it. The set screw lets you limit jaw pressure by thickness, which is useful on a 4 mm mirror and useless if the wheel never scores. Buy it for the pliers if you will use them.
Pros
- Running pliers with a set screw and grozer pliers with jaw covers
- 4.4 from 1,287 amazon.co.uk reviews, the highest stars in this set
- Reviewers praise the pliers and a zip wallet for hobby breaks
- Three cutter heads stated for 2–6, 6–12 and 12–20 mm
Cons
- Oil dropper only; a bottle of oil is not listed
- Cutter leaks oil, and one wheel arrived pitted and would not mark glass
- One unit arrived used and dirty
- The cutter lags the pliers in the review comments
Best for: You want running pliers and a grozer for stained-glass or longer snaps, and you will judge the pencil in the same box on its own.
Less suitable: You only need a pencil, you need oil in the bottle, or the sheet is toughened.
Specifications
- Model
- Rustark pliers and glass cutter set
- Brand
- Rustark
- Price
- ∼£17
- Customer rating
- 4.4/5(1,287)
- Type
- Pliers and cutter
- Cutting range
- 2–6 / 6–12 / 12–20 mm
- Wheel
- Carbide
- Oil in the box
- Dropper only
- Interchangeable heads
- 3
- Running pliers
- Yes
- Grip
- Pencil, PVC pliers
- Power
- Hand
- Weight
- 120 g
Common questions
What is in the Rustark set?
The seller lists running pliers, breaker-grozer pliers, an alloy cutter handle, three heads (2–6 mm, 6–12 mm, 12–20 mm), an oil dropper and a screwdriver. A bottle of oil is not listed.
Do the running pliers suit different thicknesses?
The seller says the running pliers have an adjustable set screw so you can limit the pressure for different glass thicknesses. Jaw covers are fitted to reduce chips.
Is the cutter as well reviewed as the pliers?
Several reviewers like the pliers and the case. Complaints cluster on the cutter: oil leaks, and one scoring wheel arrived pitted and would not mark glass.
Our view
The HaroKing HK-C is a carbide pencil at £9.98 and 140 g, and the bullets include a bottle of cutting oil plus three heads stated for 2–6 mm, 6–12 mm and 12–20 mm. It shows 4.3 from 2,097 amazon.co.uk reviews. The seller says to put a few drops in the hollow handle rather than filling it, because a full handle leaks, and that straight cuts suit it better than curves or circles. In the first 50 UK reviews, people report clean scores on 5 mm and 6 mm sheet when they follow the packet or a video, and some go on to mirrors and mosaic after practice. The same sample includes units that only scratch and will not run a break on 4 mm or around 6–8 mm, a head blunt after about two cuts, and a glass cooker cover that shattered. One reviewer found no wick, so the oil poured through the handle. You pay about a pound more than the Camdios for oil the listing actually includes, and you still check the wick before the first pane.
Pros
- Bottle of cutting oil included, with a few-drops fill instruction
- Clean scores on 5 mm and 6 mm sheet reported when the steps are followed
- Packet instructions called useful by first-time users
- 4.3 from 2,097 amazon.co.uk reviews at £9.98
Cons
- Some units only scratch and will not run a break
- One review found no wick, so oil drips straight through
- Seller says curves and circles are harder than straight cuts
- A glass cooker cover shattered, which is the wrong glass for this tool
Best for: You want a straight score on annealed sheet of about 4–6 mm and you would rather have cutting oil in the box than buy it later.
Less suitable: You need curves, circles, tile, or a shower-glass or hob-glass cut.
Specifications
- Model
- HaroKing glass cutter with oil
- Brand
- HaroKing
- Price
- ∼£10
- Customer rating
- 4.3/5(2,097)
- Type
- Pencil oil-feed
- Cutting range
- 2–6 / 6–12 / 12–20 mm
- Wheel
- Carbide
- Oil in the box
- Yes
- Interchangeable heads
- 3
- Running pliers
- No
- Grip
- Pencil, hollow handle
- Power
- Hand
- Weight
- 140 g
Common questions
Is cutting oil included with the HaroKing cutter?
Yes. The bullets say the package contains a bottle of cutting oil, and that you should put a few drops into the handle rather than filling it, because a full handle leaks.
Can this cutter cut curves and circles?
The seller says the product suits straight cutting, and that curves or circles are harder to do with it.
Why do some reviews say the oil pours straight through?
One reviewer reports there is no wick, so oil runs through and drips. Other reviewers used the included oil on 5 mm and 6 mm sheet without mentioning that fault.
Our view
The HRLORK kit is a hand-powered pencil at £6.49 and 110 g, with three heads the seller states for 2–6 mm, 6–12 mm and 12–20 mm. It shows 4.3 from 106 amazon.co.uk reviews, and all 27 UK reviews in the saved listing were read for this note. One buyer cut a thin sliver from 6 mm greenhouse glass on the first try, and others used it on picture-frame glass and called the feel solid for the money. Another could not get the score to run on a 6 mm pane and scrapped the glass, and one reviewer said it was not sharp enough for a mirror. The bullets do not mention oil or a leaflet; a reviewer found an oil container and no oiling guidance, and the numbers on the head disc are unexplained. Spare heads are described as identical in one review, which undercuts the three-band claim. At this price, with a score level with the dearer oil-included pencil, it is the best value in the set if you already know a one-pass score.
Pros
- £6.49 for a pencil with three heads stated up to a 12–20 mm band
- A first-try sliver from 6 mm greenhouse glass in one review
- Picture-frame glass and a solid feel mentioned at this price
- 4.3 from 106 amazon.co.uk reviews
Cons
- No instructions, so oiling and head choice are unclear
- Oil is not stated in the bullets
- One 6 mm pane was scrapped because the score would not run
- One reviewer found it not sharp enough for a mirror
Best for: You already know how to make one score and you want the lowest price among the pencils that still sit in the mid-80s on score.
Less suitable: You need printed steps, oil in the box, or a first tool for a mirror you cannot afford to ruin.
Specifications
- Model
- HRLORK 5-piece glass cutter kit
- Brand
- HRLORK
- Price
- ∼£6
- Customer rating
- 4.3/5(106)
- Type
- Pencil cutter kit
- Cutting range
- 2–6 / 6–12 / 12–20 mm
- Wheel
- Hard heads
- Interchangeable heads
- 3
- Running pliers
- No
- Grip
- Pencil, anti-slip
- Power
- Hand
- Weight
- 110 g
Common questions
Does the HRLORK kit include instructions or oil?
The bullets do not mention oil or a leaflet. Reviewers say there are no instructions. One reviewer found an oil container but no oiling guidance.
Will it cut 6 mm greenhouse glass?
One reviewer cut a thin sliver from 6 mm horticultural glass on the first try. Another could not get a clean break on 6 mm glass and scrapped the pane. The 12–20 mm head is a seller claim.
Our view
The Camdios pencil is an alloy oil-feed cutter listed at £8.97 and 90.6 g, with three carbide heads the seller states for 2–6 mm, 6–12 mm and 12–20 mm. On amazon.co.uk it shows 4.2 from 16,130 ratings and rank 1 in Glass Cutters, but the first 50 UK reviews mix pane scoring with bottle-jig comments, so that count is not a clean sample of one pencil. Reviewers who treat it as a scorer report a single line on 6 mm sheet and on old picture-frame glass, then a snap. The bullets say cutting oil is not included, and missing oil is a repeated complaint even though some buyers like the reservoir once they buy fluid themselves. Several people could not undo the head screw, so the spare thicknesses stayed unused, and one review says thick tiles were not scored deeply enough to snap. An oil-feed part has come apart in at least one order, with the seller sending a replacement. The size, colour, style and material fields all read "Glass Bottle Cutter Pen", which clashes with the pencil title, so check the live page before you assume the tool in the photo.
Pros
- Alloy pencil at 90.6 g with three heads stated for 2–6, 6–12 and 12–20 mm
- Reviewers report a single score on 6 mm sheet and old picture-frame glass
- 4.2 from 16,130 amazon.co.uk ratings at £8.97
- Oil reservoir is usable once you buy fluid separately
Cons
- Bullets say cutting oil is not included
- Head-retaining screw is fiddly or impossible to undo
- Review text mixes this pencil with a bottle-cutting jig
- Thick tiles were not scored deeply enough to snap in one review
Best for: You want a widely ordered pencil for a straight score on ordinary annealed sheet, and you will buy cutting oil yourself.
Less suitable: You need oil in the box, a head you can swap on the first day, or a cutter for tile, bottles or toughened glass.
Specifications
- Model
- Camdios pencil glass cutter kit
- Brand
- Camdios
- Price
- ∼£9
- Customer rating
- 4.2/5(16,130)
- Type
- Pencil oil-feed
- Cutting range
- 2–6 / 6–12 / 12–20 mm
- Wheel
- Carbide
- Oil in the box
- No
- Interchangeable heads
- 3
- Running pliers
- No
- Grip
- Pencil, alloy
- Power
- Hand
- Weight
- 90.6 g
Common questions
Does this Camdios kit include cutting oil?
The listing bullets say glass cutter oil is not included. The handle is described as an automatic oil feed, so you add oil yourself. Some reviewers say no oil arrived; others mention oil or a dispenser.
What thickness do the three heads cover?
The seller states three interchangeable carbide heads for 2–6 mm, 6–12 mm and 12–20 mm. That is a listing claim. One reviewer could not snap thick tiles with it.
Is the head easy to change?
Several reviewers could not undo the small screw that holds the cutting head, so they were stuck with the head that was fitted.
Our view
The FIXTEK cutter is a 20 g wooden handle listed at £4.49, with six carbide wheels claimed and no oil reservoir and no millimetre range. It shows 2.9 from 35 amazon.co.uk reviews, and all 14 UK reviews in the saved listing were read. One new user shaped 5 mm glass, and a few short reviews say it works as expected. More of them say the wheels leave no score on greenhouse glass or a thin mirror, or that the tool needs repeated effort instead of one smooth line. The screw thread is reported to strip after two half-turns, the cutter falls apart, and one unit arrived with sharp metal lifted from the base. Reviewers call it a craft toy rather than a pane cutter, which matches a dry wheel holder with no stated thickness. Six spare wheels do not help if the holder will not keep a wheel on the glass.
Pros
- £4.49 and 20 g, the lightest and cheapest listing in this set
- Six carbide wheels claimed on a wooden handle
- One reviewer shaped 5 mm glass
Cons
- 2.9 from 35 amazon.co.uk reviews
- Wheels leave no score on greenhouse glass or thin mirror in several reviews
- Screw thread reported to strip after two half-turns
- No oil feed and no thickness range stated
Best for: You are trying a dry wheel on scrap and the pane in front of you does not matter if the score fails.
Less suitable: You are cutting a greenhouse pane, a mirror, or any sheet you need to keep.
Specifications
- Model
- FIXTEK wooden-handle glass cutter
- Brand
- FIXTEK
- Price
- ∼£4
- Customer rating
- 2.9/5(35)
- Type
- Wood-handle wheel
- Wheel
- Carbide, six claimed
- Oil in the box
- No
- Interchangeable heads
- 6 claimed
- Running pliers
- No
- Grip
- Wood handle
- Power
- Hand
- Weight
- 20 g
Common questions
What glass thickness is the FIXTEK cutter rated for?
The listing does not state a millimetre range. One reviewer shaped 5 mm glass. Others could not score greenhouse glass or thin mirror.
Does it have an oil reservoir?
No oil feed is mentioned. The tool is a wooden handle with interchangeable carbide wheels.
How reliable is the wheel holder?
Reviewers report the screw thread stripping after two half-turns, the cutter falling apart, and one unit arriving with sharp metal lifted from the base.
How we compared
Scores use the amazon.co.uk listings already in the display file. There is no lab test. The highest score is the top pick, and the best price against a high score is the best value. The weights below sum to 100. Deductions apply when reviews describe a seized head screw, a missing wick, a stripped thread, a wheel that will not mark glass, or a listing that mixes a pencil with a bottle jig.
1
Amazon stars and review count
35%How many UK stars the listing shows, and how many ratings sit behind that figure. A mixed review sample, such as pencil comments bundled with a bottle jig, is not treated as a clean count for one tool.
2
Oil in the bullets
25%Whether the listing includes a bottle of cutting oil, only a dropper, or neither. Oil is not claimed unless the bullets say so.
3
Running pliers
20%Whether the box includes running pliers for the snap. A grozer tidies an edge. It does not replace the score.
4
Faults in the reviews
20%Deductions for a seized head screw, a missing wick, a stripped thread, a wheel that will not mark glass, or a listing that mixes product types.
Independent review
Last updated: October 2026
8 sources checked
Glass cutter buying guide
Choose the glass before the brand. Annealed float, picture glass, horticultural sheet and the glass face of a mirror can be scored. Toughened, laminated and sealed units cannot. Straight lines suit a pencil against a rule. Curves need a narrow pattern head, and none of these five listings is sold as one. Circles and bottles belong in other comparisons. Oil should be in the bullets, or you should budget for a small bottle. Three thickness heads only help if the screw will undo.
What is a glass cutter?
A glass cutter scores annealed glass with a carbide wheel so you can snap the sheet. It does not saw through the pane. The wheel leaves a faint continuous line. You then snap along that line with your hands, a bench edge, or running pliers. UK buyers use one on picture glass, a household mirror, greenhouse sheet or stained glass, usually about 2 mm to 6 mm. Pencil oil-feed cutters are the default: a hollow handle and a carbide wheel.
Best for
- Straight scores on 2–6 mm annealed sheet, picture glass or greenhouse glass
- Stained-glass beginners who want oil and usually a pair of running pliers
Not ideal for
- Toughened doors, showers, laminated glass, wired glass or sealed units
- Tiles, hob glass, bottles and circles
Mistakes to avoid
- 1
Scoring the line twice
One faint continuous score is the job. A second pass, or pressing until the line is white and gritty, chips the edge instead of opening a clean fissure.
- 2
Filling the oil handle
The HaroKing instruction is a few drops, not a full reservoir. A full handle leaks. Vegetable oil gums the axle. Only buy a listing that states oil, or budget for a small bottle.
- 3
The wrong glass or the wrong claim
A 12–20 mm head is not proof that 20 mm glass cuts in normal DIY use. These tools do not cut tile, hob glass or toughened sheet. On a mirror, score the glass face, not the painted back.
What to weigh up
Glass type
HighAnnealed float, picture glass, horticultural sheet and the glass face of a mirror can be scored. Toughened, laminated and double-glazed units cannot be trimmed with this tool. Toughened glass is cut before toughening. Afterwards it shatters if you break the surface compression. That is the limit stated by IQ Glass and by Cantifix. A home-cut float pane does not become safety glazing.
Oil and the snap
HighCutting fluid lubricates the wheel and helps the fissure stay open. Prefer a listing that includes oil, or budget for a small bottle. A few drops is the HaroKing instruction. A full handle leaks. Vegetable oil gums the axle. Only the HaroKing bullets state a bottle of oil. The Rustark lists a dropper. The Camdios states that oil is not included. The HRLORK bullets do not mention oil. Three thickness heads only help if the screw will undo.
Which option suits you?
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
Stained-glass beginner
You want a pencil plus help to snap a longer line. The Rustark set adds running pliers and a grozer. The cutter in that box is the weak part, and a bottle of oil is not listed.
You already score in one pass
You know a single score and a snap, and you want the lowest price among the pencils that still sit in the mid-80s. The HRLORK kit is about £6.49. The bullets do not mention oil or a leaflet.
Common questions about glass cutters
Which glass cutter is the top pick in 2026?
The Rustark pliers and glass cutter set is the top pick. It scores 88, the highest here, at about £16.99, with 4.4 from 1,287 amazon.co.uk reviews. It is the only listing with running pliers and a grozer. The pencil in the same box is the weak part: oil can leak, a bottle of oil is not listed, and one wheel arrived pitted. Buy it if you will use the pliers. This is a listing judgement, not a lab test.
How much does a good glass cutter cost?
The five amazon.co.uk kits in this comparison cost about £4.49 to about £16.99. The HRLORK pencil is about £6.49 and is the best value on a score of 86. The HaroKing, which includes a bottle of oil, is about £9.98 on the same score. The Rustark set is about £16.99. Named Toyo pencil cutters from UK suppliers sit from about £16.95 to £24.49 including VAT. Oil is often extra on those.
What should you check before you buy a glass cutter?
Check the glass first. Annealed sheet, picture glass, greenhouse glass and the glass face of a mirror can be scored. Toughened, laminated and double-glazed units cannot. Then check the shape of the cut, whether the bullets include oil, and whether you need running pliers for the snap. Three heads only help if you can undo the screw. Do not treat a 12–20 mm head as proof that 20 mm glass cuts in normal DIY use.
Can you cut toughened or shower glass?
No. Toughened glass is cut before it is toughened. Afterwards it shatters if you break the surface compression. IQ Glass and Cantifix state that limit. A shower door, a toughened shelf or hob glass is the wrong job for every cutter here. A home-cut float pane is also not safety glazing for a critical location under Approved Document K. Order factory-cut safety glass for those spots.
Does a glass cutter need oil?
Cutting fluid lubricates the wheel and helps the score stay open. Only the HaroKing bullets state a bottle of oil, and the seller says a few drops in the handle, not a full fill. The Rustark lists a dropper, not a bottle. The Camdios states that oil is not included. The HRLORK bullets do not mention oil. Vegetable oil gums the axle. If the handle has no wick, put a few drops on the wheel instead of flooding it.
Will a 12–20 mm head cut 20 mm glass?
No. The three-head claim on four listings is a seller line for bands of 2–6 mm, 6–12 mm and 12–20 mm. This comparison does not treat that as proof that 20 mm glass cuts in normal DIY use. The jobs in the sources are usually about 2 mm to 6 mm. One Camdios review could not snap thick tiles. Tile is a different material, and these cutters do not cut ceramic tile.
When should you call a glazier instead?
Call a glazier when the pane is toughened, laminated, wired or a sealed unit, when it sits where people can walk into it, when the sheet is too large to support, or when you need a hole, a cut-out or a polished edge. Bottles are a different tool. The bottle cutter comparison is the page for a bottle, not a pane. Score a mirror on the glass face, not the painted back.
Our verdict
The Rustark R513-BLQ scores 88, the highest in this set: about £16.99, 4.4 from 1,287 reviews, and the only running pliers. That is the top pick. The cutter in the same box is the weak part, and a bottle of oil is not listed. The HRLORK pencil scores 86 at about £6.49, level with the HaroKing oil-included pencil at about £9.98, on 106 reviews. That is the best value if you already know a one-pass score. None of this is a lab test. The 12–20 mm head claim is not treated as proof that 20 mm glass cuts in normal DIY use.
Best overallView offer
Rustark pliers and glass cutter set
Highest score in this set, 88, from 4.4 out of 1,287 reviews and the only running pliers. The cutter itself is the weak part.
Best value
View offer
HRLORK 5-piece glass cutter kit
Same score band as the oil-included pencil, 86, at about £6.49, on 106 reviews.
Editorial
DIY & tools editor
Cutting toolsGlass cuttingHand tools
Peter F. is the editor for DIY & tools at productscompared.co.uk. Comparisons in this category are checked against amazon.co.uk listings, review evidence and public UK sources.
Updated: October 2026
8 sources checked
Guides to glass cutters
Guides on what to look for, how to use a product, and common mistakes.
Glass cutter buying guideGrip, oil, head and whether you need pliers, before the models.Best glass cuttersWho each kept listing is for, and when a Toyo-class cutter is the next step.How to use a glass cutterOne score and a snap, without a second pass.Glass cutter for mirrorsScore the glass face and protect the silver.Glass cutter oilFluid, the wick and leaks, beyond the line that oil matters.
Related comparisons
Sources
Public UK sources from the research digest. Listing prices, stars and review counts are the amazon.co.uk lines used for this comparison, retrieved 20 October 2026.
- HSE — Glass and glazing (retrieved 20 October 2026)
- HSE — Automotive glazing (retrieved 20 October 2026)
- Approved Document K (retrieved 20 October 2026)
- IQ Glass — Can toughened glass be cut? (retrieved 20 October 2026)
- Pilkington Gl@ssary (retrieved 20 October 2026)
- Consumer Rights Act 2015 notes (retrieved 20 October 2026)
- Wholesale Glass Company — oil-reservoir cutters (retrieved 20 October 2026)
- All About Framing — how to cut glass (retrieved 20 October 2026)
Expert source (DIY & tools): Charlie White (Charlie DIYte) (external profile) – public expert commentary used as a research source, not as a contributor to our pages.
This page contains affiliate links to amazon.co.uk with the tag pcuk26-21. If you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Prices, stars and review counts are the amazon.co.uk listing lines used for this comparison. We did not run a lab test.